NB: as of 23 September 2008, all new artSMart articles are being published on the site news.artsmart.co.za.

BRIDGING FINANCE
(article first published : 2004-03-28)

Regular readers of the popular D’ARTS magazine are bemoaning the fact that there was no March issue as Durban Arts didn’t have the funding to bring it out.

The future was looking dire as by deadline time for the April issue, there was still no money forthcoming from Durban Arts or any other funder. To the arts community and arts supporters, having no D’ARTS magazine is a huge blow.

Editor Caroline Smart was "absolutely delighted" when Trustee of the Bartel Arts Trust, Dick Breytenbach, offered bridging finance for this issue to be produced.

"We are offering funds for this issue, and another issue if necessary. Thereafter we can look into a possible loan situation," says Dick Breytenbach. "Although the Trust is not in a position to produce the magazine on an ongoing basis, we are very happy to be able to help out where necessary," he says.

The trust has been set up for the promotion of arts in the broadest sense of the word and curates money for various worthwhile arts projects under the guidance of trustees Paul Mikula and Dick Breytenbach.

Funding from the eThekwini Municipality, which funds Durban Arts, has been pledged – hopefully in time for the May issue, but this still does not guarantee the future of this plucky, modest magazine which has been published every month for the past 21 years. It has won, and twice been a finalist for, the Arts and Culture Trust of the Presidents Award for being the best arts publication of its kind in South Africa.

The arts community implores Durban Arts, the eThekwini Municipality – and indeed other potential partners, funders and distributors – to do whatever it takes to make sure that the D’ARTS magazine is not shelved, but continues to service the many arts practitioners and supporters in the city.

All those involved in the KZN arts industry and in D’Arts magazine salute the Bartel Arts Trust for their generosity.

Illa Thompson. On behalf of the KZN Steering Committee of the Performing Arts Network of SA (PANSA) 2004.